In 2026, Zavod Boter entered into an ambitious international partnership with the KEY-YOU project. The full title of the initiative is “KEY-YOU: Creative Knowledge & Diversity-oriented Engagement for Youth UNLOCKED Participation”. This project is part of the Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership in Youth (KA220-YOU) and will set new standards in civic education and youth inclusion over a two-year period from 2026 to 2028.

Project Mission

The primary goal of the KEY-YOU project is to empower young people aged 18 to 30 to become active co-creators of society. We place a special emphasis on those facing fewer opportunities, including youth at risk of social exclusion, migrants, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQI+ community, and youth from rural areas.

We aim to make complex decision-making processes in the European Union and at the local level understandable, accessible, and, above all, attractive to new generations. We will achieve this through game-based learning—a methodology that boosts motivation and critical thinking.

Main Pillars and Project Results

The project is divided into several key work packages that will deliver concrete tools and knowledge:

• KEY-YOU Digital Escape Room: Development of an innovative digital platform that will simulate civic engagement processes through three narratives, six scenarios, and twelve puzzles.
• Flashcard Palette: An interactive tool featuring 72 cards, adapted for both digital and printed use, to encourage discussions on gender equality, inclusive societies, and participation.
• Local “Civic Pathways” Think-tanks: We will conduct four intensive 2-day group meetings in each partner country, where young people will directly collaborate on designing the content for the game and tools.
• Handbooks and Methodological Frameworks: Preparation of comprehensive materials in English and partner languages for youth workers, providing guidelines on how to adapt and use these developed tools in everyday practice.

International Partner Consortium

The strength of the KEY-YOU project lies in the diversity and expertise of our partners from four European countries:

• 🇩🇪 HochVier – Gesellschaft für politische und kulturelle Bildung e.V. (Germany): The lead coordinator based in Potsdam and experts in political and cultural education.
• 🇸🇮 Zavod Boter (Slovenia): Our organization brings experience in working with youth with fewer opportunities while leading the evaluation and dissemination work packages.
• 🇵🇹 FAJUB – Federação das Associações Juvenis do Distrito de Braga (Portugal): A federation of youth associations providing a strong link to grassroots youth work.
• 🇬🇷 Media Suite Academy – MSA (Greece): The partner responsible for digital production, website development, and audiovisual promotion.
• 🇬🇷 Pylon One (Greece): Experts in visual identity, social media management, and technical support for tool development.

Alignment with EU Youth Goals

The KEY-YOU project is not designed in a vacuum; it directly contributes to the realization of the EU Youth Goals. Our activities are closely aligned with the following priorities:

• Goal #2 – Equality for all genders: Promoting equal opportunities and integrating a gender perspective into all aspects of youth engagement.
• Goal #3 – Inclusive societies: Providing support and space for young people who are often pushed to the margins of society.
• Goal #9 – Space and participation for all: Strengthening democratic participation and ensuring safe spaces for youth expression.

From Theory to Practice: Testing and Labs

To ensure the high quality and usability of the developed tools, the project will include an extensive testing phase:

• Labs for Youth and Youth Workers: During the pilot phase, more than 320 young people and 120 youth workers will participate in testing the tools.
• Training in Germany: A three-day “Youth Workers’ Debatable Training Lab” is planned in Germany, where experts from all partner countries will test the game methodology.
• Simulation in Greece: Young participants will attend a real-time simulation on EU decision-making, where they will directly apply their newly acquired competencies.

Sustainable Impact

Zavod Boter is responsible for developing the dissemination and evaluation plans to ensure the project meets its set objectives and achieves a long-term impact. Beyond digital tools, we will also establish:

• European Participation Network: Connecting organizations for the long-term exchange of best practices.
• Multimedia Content: We will prepare a series of podcasts featuring participant testimonials and the project’s impact on their lives.

Our Commitment

At Zavod Boter, we will ensure throughout the project that all developed tools are accessible in the Slovenian language and adapted to the needs of local youth. We believe that by combining fun and education, we can “unlock” the potential of young people to actively co-create a fairer and more inclusive Europe.